Lan Kwai-Fong

Authentic Chinese food in Oud Metha 20 Reviews

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From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2008

There are a lot of places in Dubai that feel like some rich businessman has seen a picture in a book somewhere and decided to try and copy it. Lan Kwai Fong avoids this trap, capturing a genuine sense of a Chinese dining hall.

Authentic decor and a largely Chinese clientele means you feel like you’re getting the real thing. Massive portions at rock-bottom prices are the order of the day.

The appetiser platter is a great way to start, with crispy spring rolls and loaded prawn toast. However, the distinction between ‘starter’ and ‘main course’ is blurred to the point that everything is served at the same time, which makes dining a bit cramped, but does encourage sharing.

Definitely check out the spicy special fried rice, which adds a little extra kick to any dish, and if you only order one meal, make sure it’s the juicy, meaty, slow-cooked barbecued duck.

Portions strike a great balance between meat and veg, and it’s hot, flavoursome, filling, and tastes like the chef actually cares about creating a quality dish. Importantly, the food is MSG free, making it a slightly healthier choice – although with some dishes loaded with as much oil as an OPEC delegate, you’ll want to be sure your gym membership is up to date.

When it comes to dessert, the lychees with ice-cream is a literal description, in that you get two lychees with your scoop – maybe just stick with the mains, and you’ll be delighted at the impressive quality you get for the price you’re paying.

By Jeremy Lawrence

• Previous reviews
  • 22 March,2012- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 28 March,2011- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 05 April,2010- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 17 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 16 May,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 12 March,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 30 April,2006- reviewed by TimeOut Dubai
  • 01 September,2004- reviewed by Matthew Lee

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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: Jeane on 22 Aug ' 12 at 14:39

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

The Peking Duck was a huge disappointment and totally not worth the money we paid for it. The place was literally empty for most of our dinner. Would surely not return,

Posted by: Chocolate&Chilli on 29 Feb ' 12 at 11:46

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I was very amazed at how enjoyable the food was, even after having rather high expectations from having read the reviews.

Especially after having had my fair share of horrible Chinese food in Dubai, this restaurant came as a real pleasurable experience.

The food was good so welll- the veg was crisp, the squid tender and the fish perfectly steamed. Rice was nice and the ice tea was great. Best thing is you can watch the chefs at work! The seasoning was spot on- just what you would expect from a cantonese restaurant.

I would def recommend this place and most definitely come back.

Posted by: Lim on 02 Dec ' 11 at 17:49

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

My husband and I are Singaporean Chinese and both of us can cook well. We went to try the lunch and dinner and are very satisfied with both meals.

Posted by: Jimmy Mariano on 12 Oct ' 11 at 11:55

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Defintely one of the best Chinese Restaurants in Dubai and good value for money....I'm a regular...

Posted by: ElleG on 01 Aug ' 11 at 09:48

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

LOVE most of their dishes! Though tad bit oily, the ingredients and cooking style brings memories of Chinese home cooking... Glad to have finally found a restaurant for my Chinese dinner fix.

Posted by: c. alvares on 06 Jun ' 11 at 10:32

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

omg amazingggg food!
Easily the best chinese in town
Ordered crispy noodles with beef and am still dreaming about it.
Also ordered vegetarian fried rice and a chicken dish.
Best appetizer was the shrimp on toast
simply delicious.
Def going back soon!

Posted by: Ashley Ma on 16 Apr ' 11 at 18:36

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I am a Chinese from Shanghai and this is the only Chinese restaurant I love to go, and it has been for many years. The decorations of the restaurant represents some history of China, such as the wooden chairs and Terra cotta replica(more than 2000yrs). The ingredients are very fresh and taste terrific, such as the steam fresh hammour, great with rice; Sea food with Udong noodles, duck with mushrooms, fried veg spring rolls(crispy and not oily),etc.. For those who said regret and will not go again I believe you don't understand what is real chinese cuisine, they have a lot of loyal customers keep coming back. By the way the chef was used to work in Le Meridien where we first tried the food many years ago and it taste just like before. In fact, we are having 5 Star hotel standard food but paying the fast food price here in Dubai.

Posted by: Ralph B on 25 Mar ' 11 at 10:42

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

have been eating here for years. often on my way home after a late night at the office. food is always good, service is not great but ok. good value for money.

never tried the famous duck, as I think it must be too oily. Scallops in XO sauce are the best

Posted by: Pinks on 18 Mar ' 11 at 12:39

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Despite Time Out's claim that Lan Kwai Fong is cherished by Dubai's Chinese community, I was the only Chinese person in the heaving restaurant last night and having had dinner there I can see why. The food was horribly heavy and oily, a far cry from Hong Kong styled Cantonese cuisine. Severely disappointing.

Posted by: mavic on 05 Feb ' 11 at 17:54

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• Best for: Family friendly

I would definitely go back and even recommend this to friends...real value for money and great tasting chinese cuisine...

Posted by: Karen on 05 Feb ' 11 at 17:02

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

Having read the reviews we decided to try this restaurant and the acclaimed Peking Duck! Unfortunately we were very disappointed. One could possibly forgive the tired decor and the grubby appearance if the food had been good, but the Duck was clearly not cooked for long enough! It was not possible to get much of the meat off the bone and it certainly was not crispy. The best part was the dish of sweets on the way out. We certainly will not return!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Farid on 23 Nov ' 10 at 14:57

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Probably the best Sweet & Sour chicken you'll ever eat in Dubai (including the chinese restaurants in 5-star hotels), the decor and ambience could be improved, but if you are looking for top notch cantonese food, prompt no frills service and very reasonable prices - at LAN KWAI FONG, you won't go wrong. The Chicken in black-bean sauce and Prawns in Sambal sauce are some of the other favourites. We eat there at least twice a month.

Posted by: Marx on 31 Oct ' 10 at 11:08

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

We eat at this restaurant, at least 4 times a year. Most of my officemates celebrate their birthdays here. The food is great, we especially love the deep fried cuttlefish and the seafood tofu. Value for money is good, as you can feed a large group of people without spending a fortune. The ambience I agree could be improved greatly. It feels like the decorations you find inside the restaurant has been added without regard for the overall feel of the restaurant. The service is ok, though we still have a tough time communicating with the waitress as she refuses to write down our order on paper. The owner/chef has become sort of an icon, everytime you come visit. He greets you and gives you bone crunching handshake.

Posted by: serene on 06 Jun ' 10 at 14:00

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

the food was tasteless. the price was average. didn't like the ambience. the seat was so low and uncomfortable. the waitress was not very friendly. don't think will go there again.

Posted by: Pursnickitty on 06 Mar ' 10 at 10:54

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I've been lunching here for a couple of years now and last night I had a full-on dinner. It's definitely the place to go if you take chowing down seriously. You go here for the food; It's not a place to go to soak up ambiance. I recommend anything from the Chef's special page. The sizzling beef in golden noodle basket was absolutely delicious. I'm particularly partial to the wok friend udon noodles with seafood in XO sauce. I also enjoy the Chef's Special hot pot in supreme broth, which is a seafood soup with seaweed and tofu. It's comes served in cast iron hot pot simmering under a live fire. Not the best bang for your buck, but that depends on what you get. We had jasmine tea, a coke, and 3 mains, which came out to AED 160. However, we have yummy lunch leftovers - always a plus.

Posted by: Yogesh on 08 Feb ' 10 at 08:37

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

I had taken my guests to this restaurant based on the high ratings. The food tasted OK. You get better chinese in some of the not so authentic chinese joints.
The highlight which really ticked me off from visitng this place again was a live fly floating in our dish. When we informed the waitress about it, she quicky removed the fly from the dish and said it must have fallen while we were eating as the fly was not dead!!!! Maybe she thought we might treat the fly as a chinese delicacy.

Never Again will I take any guest to this Place

Posted by: Elchico Malo on 24 Aug ' 09 at 08:27

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Twice i celebrated my bday there, my friend wants to celebrate hers there. Need I say more? I just wish it was twice its size...

Posted by: Chris Mullinger on 18 Mar ' 09 at 10:56

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Probably best in Bur Dubai - the best Chinese are in Deira. However, not a patch on China Sea. If you want real value for money and know your way around more authentic Chinese food, try the scruffier looking restaurant just next door.

Posted by: jamil janjua on 17 Mar ' 09 at 09:32

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Certainly the best oriental food fusion we have experienced . Great value for money ! Its a must visit for when my friends come to town. Supervised and sometimes served by the owner Sam it demonstrates care and focus for personalised prompt service . I highly recommend a visit once, twice and more if you like it. All my friends and aquaintances certainly did and we get to meet them more there.

jj

Posted by: Chris on 05 Feb ' 09 at 11:16

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

absolutely incredible. We#ve read the review from Timeout Dubai and wanted to try the experience of a whole peking duck. Our taxi-driver discussed long with us that he knows every asian restaurant in this area, but Lan Kwai-Fong couldn't exist. It exists and is a beautiful spot. Typical chinese, simple but great. friendly service, great food. Definately not the last time here. Good to trust Timeout Dubai.